SCIBS closes to four days of record sales and visitor numbers

28-May-2018
The Sun has set on the 2018 edition of the Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show, with exhibitors tooting millions of dollars in sales across the four days and organisers reporting visitor numbers up 10 per cent.

The weather gods were kind for Day 4 of the 30th anniversary showcase, which drew 45,866 people through the gates from Thursday to Sunday.

Organisers said 2018 was one of the biggest Shows yet, with 180 boats on water and 275 boats on land across The Marine Village precincts, along with more than 300 individual exhibitors on Show.

SCIBS general manger Johan Hasser said exhibitors reported a successful four days across the board, with many securing record sales and promising leads to follow up post-Show.

“It’s been a great event, visitor numbers are up on last year and our exhibitors have benefited, with many generating major sales results and the chance to showcase their brands to tens of thousands of potential buyers,” he said.

Local Gold Coast manufacturer Maritimo reported its ‘best Show since pre-GFC’, with the team hitting a new SCIBS sales record.

CEO Garth Corbitt said the sales rush in the past four days put Maritimo ahead of its $37 million record on the last day of the Show and that figure was set to increase further as deals were finalised in the coming days.

He said sales had been made across the entire range of the company's models with the X60 luxury sports yacht and the S70 and M70 motor yachts attracting the biggest interest.

“There were multiple X60 sales following its world premiere on Thursday,” he said.

"The world premiere of the X60 sports yacht has drawn huge attention to Maritimo and sales have just flowed throughout the whole Show.”

Rodney Longhurst from fellow Gold Coast local boat builder Riviera said the Show had been very rewarding.

"The SCIBS team has been very welcoming and very supportive. The Riviera family too are proud to see us back on the water and showcasing our latest product.

"The response to the 395 and the Riviera 72 Sports Motor Yacht has been overwhelming. We’ve had at least six people on every model in the seven-boat line-up at 3pm on a Sunday! We are happy with the interest, happy with our sales. It has been great all round!"

Peter Pembroke, general manager at Whitehaven and Integrity Motor Yachts said this year's visitor numbers were "extremely strong and good quality" and had resulted in great leads for both brands.

"People came to this year's Boat Show with the intention to buy, and they asked all the right questions,” he said.

“We are pleased with the level of interest in Whitehaven, which is a bespoke product that appeals to experienced boat owners looking for a highly customised motor yacht.

"Integrity appeals to a different market, and was also very well received, particularly the new generation models. We have sold the Integrity 320 Express and 380 Sedan models, and are confident of further sales in the coming weeks."

NSW based The Multihull Group sold three of its Lagoon catamarans, the 42, 450Flybridge and a 62 at the Show, a take-home total of close to $5 million.

Managing director John Cowpe said the team was extremely happy with the result.

“The first two days were the strongest days in terms of sales, but overall it’s been a great Show.”

Horizon Motor Yachts Australia sold an E75 model for $5 million off the back of the model on display at SCIBS, which will be a custom-build.

Also on-water, the team at Great Southern Marine representing Palm Beach Motor Yachts and Ocean Alexander had “a very positive four days”.

“It has been high quality,” dealer principal Todd Holzapfel said.

“We’ve had plenty of interest and leads across all product. The Ocean Alexander 70 and 85 attracted a lot of extremely positive feedback. We have a number of sea tests booked for next week. There’s a lot of follow up to be done!”.

Brett Thurley from Clipper Motor Yachts said the team sold three new Hudson Bay Clipper’s valuing more than $2 million.

“This year’s Show was a step up from other years in terms of the size of the Show, new products on offer an overall positive vibe,” he said.

HiOctane Marine which were showcasing the all-new Glastron Deck said the team had secured several sales across the Show, along with 25 on-water tests in the next few weeks.

Tim Stessl, sales director for HiOctane Marine said it was the company’s 29th year at SCIBS.

“We’ve got four sales over the line already and hopefully a few more in the pipeline, and a good couple of month’s worth of leads to follow up after the Show,” he said.

Andrew Bennett, dealer principal at Queensland Marine Centre (QMC) said its new Boston Whaler models, along with 350 Realm and Sea Ray and were really well received.

“We’re really happy, we have a heap of sea trials booked after the Show,” he said.

It wasn’t all about the boats – Major sponsor Bentley Brisbane sold six new Lamborghini’s and three of the new Bentley Continental GT, which had its Queensland debut at SCIBS.

Marketing manager Clinton Wright said the Show had provided Bentley with a wide range of customers, keen to check out the luxury vehicle manufacturer’s latest models.

The 2018 anniversary SCIBS featured a large number of international, national and Queensland launches, across all market segments, on and off-water.

In the Pavilions, general manager of Furuno Australia said the Show had been very positive, with good enquiry both for new boats and some good refit opportunity.

“I think Sanctuary Cove has proven again that it gets a really good cross-section of the boating community. Our leads book is really solid, so we’ll have a busy few days after the Show.”

Chris Radford, director of sales from Simrad, Lowrance and B&G said there seemed to be a big increase in numbers in patronage as well as exhibitors at the Show.

“It does have that feel of the old Sanctuary Cove Boat Show back again, so we’re really happy with the numbers and the quality of the people that have come through,” he said.

Sean Griffin from boating accessories supplier GME said it was the best Show in years.

“It’s been excellent, the organisers made a big effort this year, it’s obvious by the number of boats and people, I think everyone will be very happy.”

In the Main Pavilion, Raymarine has had a huge response to its new Axiom product.

“It’s been fantastic,” said Damien Weber, Raymarine general manager.

“There were tonnes of people though the Pavilion and it was exceptionally busy. Our dealers have done extremely well. Axiom has driven the demand, people are very interested in it, and we have been very happy with the response.”

Steve Ackerie of Stefan Boating World, said SCIB is without a doubt “the best boat show in Australia”.

“It’s a beautiful show and this weather has brought out the people in good numbers. We always sell boats after the Show, but we have plenty of leads and people interested in our boats.

“It’s the closest you’ll get to Miami. I’m glad we’re here!”

For Honda, after an absence of a few years, Mark Suttle said SCIBS 2018 had been “very pleasing”.

“It’s back to a great boat show,” he said.

“We are happy. We sold a few engines, and have plenty of good leads. Thursday and Friday were particularly strong. We will be back in 2019!”

In the Boatyard, Hurricane Pontoon Boats said they had “a blinder” of a Show.

“SCIBS is back close to the old days,” said owner Brett Flanagan, who over his career had been to all 30 editions of SCIBS.

“It’s the best show for six or so years,” he said.

“It has been sensational! We’ve had exceptional interest in our all fibreglass pontoon boats. We have seven or so sea trials booked for next week, which is pleasing, and we are confident of closing some deals. It’s been terrific!”

Brisbane Marine director Ricky Gleason also said it was their ‘best year ever’ and they had sold 10 plus boats across the four days.

Dylan Lopez, managing director of BRIG said the team had sold the majority of the units on their stand, including the BRIG Eagle 10, which is the first 10 metre Eagle in Queensland and had piqued the interest of Gold Coast City Mayor Tom Tate.

“It’s been one of our best Shows in 14 years and we’re super excited to see the Eagle 10 launched into the Queensland marketplace and we event have the Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate going for a sea trial next week, so we are hoping to close a sale with the Mayor, and that will be a winning ticket!” he said.

Mike Orsmond, Dealer Principal at RIB Force Inflatables said the atmosphere at this year's SCIBS was "extremely positive", which had a great impact on sales all-round.

"Maritimo, Riviera and Integrity – all the big guys – all seem to have sold boats, which is good for us in their slipstream,” he said.

“We sold a fair few small boats and some medium sized, but we are very happy to have some larger boats in the pipeline. SCIBS was great for us. We have a full year of work ahead of us."

Typically the ‘family’ day at the Show, crowds also took in the final weigh-in of the ‘Fly Scoot’ Bream Shoot Out fishing competition presented by Shimano and hosted by SCIBS ambassador Paul Burt, with husband and wife team Ryan and Nicole Kitto crowned the 2018 champions with a winning catch of 11.33kg.

SCIBS general manager Johan Hasser said the team was already looking forward to putting the plans into place for next year.

“We are really pleased with the result, it’s such an important event for the marine industry and for the local Gold Coast economy, and we’ve had tens of thousands of people turn out to enjoy the sunshine and the great atmosphere in The Marine Village.

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